Monday, 21 December 2009

Did the clue..."rock a bye...." give any of you a clue as to my giveaway theme????

Well, it's nothing Christmassy, however it is a 'gift' I gave myself (or rather, am continuing to give myself for the next 5 years [grimace!!] ), it's something I've had for a month or so now and it has no name, which I'm sure, is quite inappropriate!!! Here it is......

.................. I'm sure you remember my new "baby", my Volkswagen Tiguan in Metallic Mountain Grey!! [hint hint perhaps??] Lots of bloggers suggested a competition to name her... (I'm tending to refer to it as a 'she', don't know why....maybe because I need some support in our all male household!!???)

So.....here's how it goes........there will be three prizes for the best name you can come up with for my little gal (or guy)!1st prize is this:

1/2 yard Australia Flag fabric by Nutex

1 fq of Golden Holden by Nutex

1 fq of Giggles by Hoffman

2010 Roses diary (we all know how I love roses!)

Copy of Patchwork and Stitching 'Kids Special ' Edition

approximately 3 metres of ricrac

(I figure the Aussie travelling bug hit me with this prize!!)

2nd Prize is:

1 cot size panel

2 baby themed quilt labels

2 rolls of matching ribbon (they're in the piccie, you may just have to zoom in!)

3 packets of baby themed buttons

(this prize came to me with the 'my baby' theme in mind!!)

and finally, 3rd prize:

1 small panel

1 yard of matching yellow check

(had the AWD in mind here!!!)

So, now you've just got to get to it.....

Leave a comment with a suggestion for a name for my little 'babe' and you'll be entered into the competition, nice and easy! No linking, no widgets, but if you want to tell others about it, I won't complain!!!!

I'll choose the winning names based on the ones I like best....simple as that! Failing that, if nothing stands out, I'll simply do a random draw!!!!

Because I figure this poor gal's (or guy, depending on what you think!!) gotta have a name before the year's out, I'm going to let this comp. run until midnight, New Year's Eve 2009...Australian Eastern Standard Time and will announce the winners New Year's Day. What a lovely way to start 2010!!!

Please note: Judge's (my) decision will be final, no correspondence will be entered into....yadda yadda yadda......the nature of this comp is all in good fun....I aim to be completely fair.....please only enter if you wish to play nicely!!!

Sorry to have to state that but.....better to say it up front than deal with nasties later!! lol

I am willing to post worldwide so have fun, let your imagination go wild, but just remember I will be closing at midnight, my time on New Year's Eve so if you are overseas, please keep this in mind!

Did the clue..."rock a bye...." give any of you a clue as to my giveaway theme????

Well, it's nothing Christmassy, however it is a 'gift' I gave myself (or rather, am continuing to give myself for the next 5 years [grimace!!] ), it's something I've had for a month or so now and it has no name, which I'm sure, is quite inappropriate!!! Here it is......

.................. I'm sure you remember my new "baby", my Volkswagen Tiguan in Metallic Mountain Grey!! [hint hint perhaps??] Lots of bloggers suggested a competition to name her... (I'm tending to refer to it as a 'she', don't know why....maybe because I need some support in our all male household!!???)

So.....here's how it goes........there will be three prizes for the best name you can come up with for my little gal (or guy)!1st prize is this:

1/2 yard Australia Flag fabric by Nutex

1 fq of Golden Holden by Nutex

1 fq of Giggles by Hoffman

2010 Roses diary (we all know how I love roses!)

Copy of Patchwork and Stitching 'Kids Special ' Edition

approximately 3 metres of ricrac

(I figure the Aussie travelling bug hit me with this prize!!)

2nd Prize is:

1 cot size panel

2 baby themed quilt labels

2 rolls of matching ribbon (they're in the piccie, you may just have to zoom in!)

3 packets of baby themed buttons

(this prize came to me with the 'my baby' theme in mind!!)

and finally, 3rd prize:

1 small panel

1 yard of matching yellow check

(had the AWD in mind here!!!)

So, now you've just got to get to it.....

Leave a comment with a suggestion for a name for my little 'babe' and you'll be entered into the competition, nice and easy! No linking, no widgets, but if you want to tell others about it, I won't complain!!!!

I'll choose the winning names based on the ones I like best....simple as that! Failing that, if nothing stands out, I'll simply do a random draw!!!!

Because I figure this poor gal's (or guy, depending on what you think!!) gotta have a name before the year's out, I'm going to let this comp. run until midnight, New Year's Eve 2009...Australian Eastern Standard Time and will announce the winners New Year's Day. What a lovely way to start 2010!!!

Please note: Judge's (my) decision will be final, no correspondence will be entered into....yadda yadda yadda......the nature of this comp is all in good fun....I aim to be completely fair.....please only enter if you wish to play nicely!!!

Sorry to have to state that but.....better to say it up front than deal with nasties later!! lol

I am willing to post worldwide so have fun, let your imagination go wild, but just remember I will be closing at midnight, my time on New Year's Eve so if you are overseas, please keep this in mind!

Friday, 18 December 2009

Sorry everyone....I think I've been in meltdown!!! Yes, the heat has been getting to me but that's not exactly what I mean.

School finished last Friday and I just haven't stopped..have barely blogged and it's killing me!!!!Well, hopefully, I'm back. You'd better go and make a cuppa before you sit down and join me...it has been a while and we have quite a lot to catch up on!

Oh, where to begin????

I guess, with my escapades this week, and a little later......a giveaway!!!!!I spent much of this week cleaning up (don't you just love it??) and travelling around the countryside taking others here and there. On Wednesday, a trip to Proserpine was in order to visit the lovely Wendy at IddyBiddy Cottage. A friend of mine is wanting to make a quilt for a workmate who is getting married on New Year's eve so I suggested taking the trip down south as Wendy has such lovely fabrics and is really reasonable! I managed to get some lovely fabrics to go with my kaleidoscope blocks, so now I can finish making them into the quilt they deserve to become!!!! They have been waiting so patiently!!!! Here are the fabrics I chose....

"Holiday Flourish" by Peggy Toole for Robert Kauffman

and "Mandarin Dynasty" by Hoffman

These are next on my list!!! Another purchase was the backing fabric for my Joseph's Coat for the DLN Quiltalong....I know, I know, it started ages ago, but last term was a write off for me so it's one I'm starting on these holidays..... I chose a coffee coloured fabric (yes, I love my coffee!!!) and I 'plan' to do my petals in blues....I love browns and blues together so I'm looking forward to this one. Got everything organised now...just have to start! I also managed to get a sandpaper board, come cutting board, come design board in a tote for $22....wasn't I impressed!!???

It was a lovely day, I got what I wanted, my friend got all that she needed and we took the new 'baby' for her first long journey....and gee, didn't she perform!!! (in a good way!) [chuckle]

Then, family over on Wednesday eve for a dinner before they headed off to the Gold Coast to spend Christmas with my lovely SIL's...sad we can't be there but.....! Being Italian, there's always a big bowl of spaghetti on the dinner table whenever we go to each others' places, so hubby (being the Italian one in our family!) managed that, and also made a mango and red onion salad...it was yummo!! My MIL brought the baked turkey and my contribution was a crisp green salad and garlic loaf to accompany it all! Not very Christmassy, but with family all around the table, it was wonderful!

Yesterday, I drove them all up to Townsville to the airport to catch their flight. It's usually an hour trip but there were a few lots of roadworks on the way so it took a bit longer. Just as well we factored this into the journey, but what I don't understand is, why do roadworks always occur at Christmas time, during the holidays, when people are travelling on the roads, and especially...when our wet season is about to start, which means cyclones and flooding and whatever work has been done to the roads ends up in potholes or washed away?????? Doesn't make sense to me...what do you think...do you know why they do it now???

After I dropped them off, I spent the rest of the day shopping...I spent waaaay too much money, but I have definitely run out of time again this year.....maybe next year I'll be more organised!!!!! hehehe [yeah, right!]

I have been catching up with a few last minute Christmas sewing projects...here's one that Gail Pan had on her blog last week....

It's a freebie and it's quite quick to stitch, so it's probably not too late to go and pay her a visit here if you're short on gifts. I've been trying to get me some Christmas mojo and I think this is starting to do the trick!!!

Today I've set up all the Christmas goodies....the trees are up, the lights are up, the decorations are up and I'm starting to feel a little more festive and definitely more relaxed now! Here's some piccies to show you around my home.....

I love the figurines...they remind me of the true meaning of Christmas.

I received my swap gifts from my Stitcher's Angel, the lovely Bonnie from the US last week. I thought I had missed out but poor Bonnie has had her hands full caring for her ill father....she has had a bit of a hard time. She has had these gifts ready for quite a while but has had her hands full being the primary carer of her dear Dad....I hope and pray all is going well for them both.....here is what she sent me....

I received some exquisite chocolate (which I've had to hide from the family!!), a beautiful thread catcher and bag to match, an armchair caddy, which IS coming in very handy, some Best Press, which I can't wait to use...I've heard so much about it and a beautiful bookmark with the Lord's Prayer. Bonnie, you are truly an Angel, after all you are going through....I am truly blessed with your new friendship!

Here is my recent prize from the giveaway from Buderim Patchwork....thank you to Andrea and the girls...they always seem to have so much fun, and what a lovely part of the country to live in!!!

I don't know if you remember, but Joy was talking about a 'peeper' that a friend of hers makes (or her husband does, anyway!) and as her and I got to talking about them, Joy ended up organising one for me to purchase from her too! It arrived just today in the mail and it is beautifully crafted in timber....don't know if you can tell by my Christmas photos, but all of my house has timber furnishings....I love the natural beauty and feel of timber! You can see the lovely crafty card that Joy sent with it....what a love!!!!

a view through the peephole!!!

Now, after such a long post, I'll leave you to have a bit of a break before I announce a giveaway.....I think it's about time, don't you??? So, until then, I'll let you think about what it is I'm having a competition about. I'll give you a clue.......rock-a-bye....!!!! (or is that a dead give away??? hehehe)

Sorry everyone....I think I've been in meltdown!!! Yes, the heat has been getting to me but that's not exactly what I mean.

School finished last Friday and I just haven't stopped..have barely blogged and it's killing me!!!!Well, hopefully, I'm back. You'd better go and make a cuppa before you sit down and join me...it has been a while and we have quite a lot to catch up on!

Oh, where to begin????

I guess, with my escapades this week, and a little later......a giveaway!!!!!I spent much of this week cleaning up (don't you just love it??) and travelling around the countryside taking others here and there. On Wednesday, a trip to Proserpine was in order to visit the lovely Wendy at IddyBiddy Cottage. A friend of mine is wanting to make a quilt for a workmate who is getting married on New Year's eve so I suggested taking the trip down south as Wendy has such lovely fabrics and is really reasonable! I managed to get some lovely fabrics to go with my kaleidoscope blocks, so now I can finish making them into the quilt they deserve to become!!!! They have been waiting so patiently!!!! Here are the fabrics I chose....

"Holiday Flourish" by Peggy Toole for Robert Kauffman

and "Mandarin Dynasty" by Hoffman

These are next on my list!!! Another purchase was the backing fabric for my Joseph's Coat for the DLN Quiltalong....I know, I know, it started ages ago, but last term was a write off for me so it's one I'm starting on these holidays..... I chose a coffee coloured fabric (yes, I love my coffee!!!) and I 'plan' to do my petals in blues....I love browns and blues together so I'm looking forward to this one. Got everything organised now...just have to start! I also managed to get a sandpaper board, come cutting board, come design board in a tote for $22....wasn't I impressed!!???

It was a lovely day, I got what I wanted, my friend got all that she needed and we took the new 'baby' for her first long journey....and gee, didn't she perform!!! (in a good way!) [chuckle]

Then, family over on Wednesday eve for a dinner before they headed off to the Gold Coast to spend Christmas with my lovely SIL's...sad we can't be there but.....! Being Italian, there's always a big bowl of spaghetti on the dinner table whenever we go to each others' places, so hubby (being the Italian one in our family!) managed that, and also made a mango and red onion salad...it was yummo!! My MIL brought the baked turkey and my contribution was a crisp green salad and garlic loaf to accompany it all! Not very Christmassy, but with family all around the table, it was wonderful!

Yesterday, I drove them all up to Townsville to the airport to catch their flight. It's usually an hour trip but there were a few lots of roadworks on the way so it took a bit longer. Just as well we factored this into the journey, but what I don't understand is, why do roadworks always occur at Christmas time, during the holidays, when people are travelling on the roads, and especially...when our wet season is about to start, which means cyclones and flooding and whatever work has been done to the roads ends up in potholes or washed away?????? Doesn't make sense to me...what do you think...do you know why they do it now???

After I dropped them off, I spent the rest of the day shopping...I spent waaaay too much money, but I have definitely run out of time again this year.....maybe next year I'll be more organised!!!!! hehehe [yeah, right!]

I have been catching up with a few last minute Christmas sewing projects...here's one that Gail Pan had on her blog last week....

It's a freebie and it's quite quick to stitch, so it's probably not too late to go and pay her a visit here if you're short on gifts. I've been trying to get me some Christmas mojo and I think this is starting to do the trick!!!

Today I've set up all the Christmas goodies....the trees are up, the lights are up, the decorations are up and I'm starting to feel a little more festive and definitely more relaxed now! Here's some piccies to show you around my home.....

I love the figurines...they remind me of the true meaning of Christmas.

I received my swap gifts from my Stitcher's Angel, the lovely Bonnie from the US last week. I thought I had missed out but poor Bonnie has had her hands full caring for her ill father....she has had a bit of a hard time. She has had these gifts ready for quite a while but has had her hands full being the primary carer of her dear Dad....I hope and pray all is going well for them both.....here is what she sent me....

I received some exquisite chocolate (which I've had to hide from the family!!), a beautiful thread catcher and bag to match, an armchair caddy, which IS coming in very handy, some Best Press, which I can't wait to use...I've heard so much about it and a beautiful bookmark with the Lord's Prayer. Bonnie, you are truly an Angel, after all you are going through....I am truly blessed with your new friendship!

Here is my recent prize from the giveaway from Buderim Patchwork....thank you to Andrea and the girls...they always seem to have so much fun, and what a lovely part of the country to live in!!!

I don't know if you remember, but Joy was talking about a 'peeper' that a friend of hers makes (or her husband does, anyway!) and as her and I got to talking about them, Joy ended up organising one for me to purchase from her too! It arrived just today in the mail and it is beautifully crafted in timber....don't know if you can tell by my Christmas photos, but all of my house has timber furnishings....I love the natural beauty and feel of timber! You can see the lovely crafty card that Joy sent with it....what a love!!!!

a view through the peephole!!!

Now, after such a long post, I'll leave you to have a bit of a break before I announce a giveaway.....I think it's about time, don't you??? So, until then, I'll let you think about what it is I'm having a competition about. I'll give you a clue.......rock-a-bye....!!!! (or is that a dead give away??? hehehe)

Sunday, 6 December 2009

I have so many "wanna do's" on my list of "to do's" that I think I'll have to live till I'm at LEAST 200 to finish them all....as soon as I finish one, a new one pops up on the end of the line...and sometimes, if it's a really pushy one, it might get to the front of the line....(how rude!!! lol)So......I've made a pact with myself to finish as many of my UFO's and WIP's as I do start new projects...or even, just finish the oldies first!!!! We'll see how I go, shall we??

This is a diamond log cabin pattern which I did at a Jan Phillip's weekend workshop held at our quilting guild earlier this year. Of course, I didn't finish it in a weekend (I wish I was that good!!) but I got half done and have worked on it little by little. It's been sitting in my cupboard for a couple of months, waiting for the 'right' backing fabric to come along. As Saturday was our last meeting for the year, I felt the time had come to release this table topper from its (and my) misery and make it complete!!!! You can probably see the pins in it ready for quilting which should be done in the next week.....you're all keeping me honest!!!!!

Why Star of Joseph you may ask??? Well, the star part's obvious (I hope!!) and as I made it for our dining room table which belonged to my husband (Joseph) before we were married, I thought it sorta fit quite nicely, don't you think???

The fabric is beautiful....I bought it with Tracy's help at Tinker's Cart in Townsville. Not sure of the fabric names (you know what I'm like...as long as it's good quality and looks good...what's in a name??? hehehe), but I think it does look stunning! Can't wait to have this one sitting purty on my.....erhh...our table!!!!!

Today was a bit of escapism after a very busy term....hubby and I decided to go for a drive and planned to return to Bowen to visit some friends however, they were in Townsville visiting a sick relative in hospital, so we decided to keep on going!!!!....Off we headed to Airlie Beach. It only took us about 2 and a half hours and is so beautiful, it's a lovely place to escape the 'everyday's'! We had lunch at the Airlie Beach Hotel, a boutique hotel that makes the most exquisite wood-fired pizzas.....mmm mmmmm! We had the specialty - a garlic base topped with tomato, salami, pepperoni, spinach, olives, jalepenos (hold them on my half....yuk!), mozzerella cheese and , of course there had to be anchovies!!!!! Yummo...we scoffed the lot...I don't think we even left the crumbs!!!!!Then we went for a walk around the shops and along the boardwalk....it was such a beautiful day and the view was gorgeous...just like in a travel brochure.

Now, you don't think I'd leave you out do you...what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't take my camera to take a photo to share with you???? Take a look at this view:

Isn't the water so blue and clear??? We are so lucky here in Australia to have some of the best beaches....(do I sound a little bit biased? ...oops! lol)

If you look a little closely in this next photo, you will see a cruise ship....wouldn't that be true escapism....setting off on the high seas to visit some exotic lands????.... [sigh!] Maybe one day??

I've had a few comments about my new 'baby' too...thanks everyone...I do love her...she's a German beauty....and quite a few of you made comments about what I was actually thinking....(see, great minds DO think alike!!!) , that is, a name for my new gal. I don't know why she's a she (no obvious features prove this) but I think I'm sick of being the only girl in the family so .... this car has no choice but to be the next girl!!!!!

Very soon I will be having a competition to find the perfect name for my little Deutsch beauty !!! Just need to find the right prize.....so thinking caps on....I will announce this one later this week!

Off now to the blanket show.....nighty nights and sugary sweet dreams!XX Wendy :O)

I have so many "wanna do's" on my list of "to do's" that I think I'll have to live till I'm at LEAST 200 to finish them all....as soon as I finish one, a new one pops up on the end of the line...and sometimes, if it's a really pushy one, it might get to the front of the line....(how rude!!! lol)So......I've made a pact with myself to finish as many of my UFO's and WIP's as I do start new projects...or even, just finish the oldies first!!!! We'll see how I go, shall we??

This is a diamond log cabin pattern which I did at a Jan Phillip's weekend workshop held at our quilting guild earlier this year. Of course, I didn't finish it in a weekend (I wish I was that good!!) but I got half done and have worked on it little by little. It's been sitting in my cupboard for a couple of months, waiting for the 'right' backing fabric to come along. As Saturday was our last meeting for the year, I felt the time had come to release this table topper from its (and my) misery and make it complete!!!! You can probably see the pins in it ready for quilting which should be done in the next week.....you're all keeping me honest!!!!!

Why Star of Joseph you may ask??? Well, the star part's obvious (I hope!!) and as I made it for our dining room table which belonged to my husband (Joseph) before we were married, I thought it sorta fit quite nicely, don't you think???

The fabric is beautiful....I bought it with Tracy's help at Tinker's Cart in Townsville. Not sure of the fabric names (you know what I'm like...as long as it's good quality and looks good...what's in a name??? hehehe), but I think it does look stunning! Can't wait to have this one sitting purty on my.....erhh...our table!!!!!

Today was a bit of escapism after a very busy term....hubby and I decided to go for a drive and planned to return to Bowen to visit some friends however, they were in Townsville visiting a sick relative in hospital, so we decided to keep on going!!!!....Off we headed to Airlie Beach. It only took us about 2 and a half hours and is so beautiful, it's a lovely place to escape the 'everyday's'! We had lunch at the Airlie Beach Hotel, a boutique hotel that makes the most exquisite wood-fired pizzas.....mmm mmmmm! We had the specialty - a garlic base topped with tomato, salami, pepperoni, spinach, olives, jalepenos (hold them on my half....yuk!), mozzerella cheese and , of course there had to be anchovies!!!!! Yummo...we scoffed the lot...I don't think we even left the crumbs!!!!!Then we went for a walk around the shops and along the boardwalk....it was such a beautiful day and the view was gorgeous...just like in a travel brochure.

Now, you don't think I'd leave you out do you...what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't take my camera to take a photo to share with you???? Take a look at this view:

Isn't the water so blue and clear??? We are so lucky here in Australia to have some of the best beaches....(do I sound a little bit biased? ...oops! lol)

If you look a little closely in this next photo, you will see a cruise ship....wouldn't that be true escapism....setting off on the high seas to visit some exotic lands????.... [sigh!] Maybe one day??

I've had a few comments about my new 'baby' too...thanks everyone...I do love her...she's a German beauty....and quite a few of you made comments about what I was actually thinking....(see, great minds DO think alike!!!) , that is, a name for my new gal. I don't know why she's a she (no obvious features prove this) but I think I'm sick of being the only girl in the family so .... this car has no choice but to be the next girl!!!!!

Very soon I will be having a competition to find the perfect name for my little Deutsch beauty !!! Just need to find the right prize.....so thinking caps on....I will announce this one later this week!

Off now to the blanket show.....nighty nights and sugary sweet dreams!XX Wendy :O)